The Trading and Enterprise Board of Ashford Council is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 30 September 2025. Items for discussion include updates on Stour Environmental Credits Ltd, Ashford Cinema Ltd, Infinity Development, and Swanton Development. The board will also consider excluding the public from part of the meeting.

Ashford International Development Company (AIDC) Progress Report

The minutes from the Trading and Enterprise Board meeting held on 25 June 2025 include a progress report on the Ashford International Development Company (AIDC). The Head of Strategic Projects and Huw Evans of Quinn Estates introduced the report, which provided an update on plans for the Ashford International Studios/Newtown Works site.

The minutes indicate that drone footage of the brickwork restoration was shown, and progress to date was outlined. The board was asked to agree to a number of recommendations to be passed to the Cabinet/Council, including:

• Acknowledging the restoration works undertaken on the Locomotive sheds.
• Noting the enabling works carried out which will result in the reduction of a substantial number of abnormal risks to the development.
• Agreeing to the departure from a primarily creative culture industry led development to a predominately residential based scheme.
• Noting the finding of the independent report on the viability of a studio and media space on the development site.
• Agreeing to the terms of a side letter to 'lock' the existing funding agreement.
• Agreeing to the funding request from AIDC for bridging loan finance to fund the planning application for the new scheme.
• Noting that, subject to Local Planning Authority approval of the revised scheme, the Trading and Enterprise Board will be asked to consider further long-term funding for the overall development.
• Authorising the Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer to complete all necessary legal documents to give effect to the above.

During the debate, responses were given to questions on residential units, commercial provision for community groups, the college and studios proposals, the planning process and nutrient neutrality¹, and design and build costs. A further update on Levelling Up Funding would be given to Cabinet in September, focusing on governance but including some details on the project progress.

Stour Environmental Credits (SEC) Ltd, Ashford Cinema Ltd, Infinity Development, and Swanton Development

The agenda includes updates on Stour Environmental Credits (SEC) Ltd, Ashford Cinema Ltd, Infinity Development, and Swanton Development. However, the public reports pack indicates that the reports for these items are restricted due to Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972². This paragraph relates to information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Exclusion of the Public

The board is scheduled to consider passing a resolution to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of some items. This is because it is anticipated that the nature of the business to be transacted would involve the disclosure of exempt information as specified by reference to Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. The board will consider whether the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Declarations of Interest

The agenda includes an item for councillors to declare any interests, including:

• Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPI) under the Localism Act 2011³
• Other Significant Interests (OSI) under the Kent Code of Conduct
• Voluntary Announcements of Other Interests

The agenda refers to the Declarations of Interest document for further details. It notes that a member who declares a DPI in relation to any item will need to leave the meeting for that item, unless a relevant Dispensation has been granted. A member who declares an OSI in relation to any item will need to leave the meeting before the debate and vote on that item, unless a relevant Dispensation has been granted, but may address the committee beforehand.

The Minutes of the previous meeting on 25 June 2025 record that Councillor Campkin made a Voluntary Announcement as a Member of South Willesborough and Newtown Community Council. Councillor Feacey made a Voluntary Announcement as Chair of Ashford International Development Company, and the Head of Strategic Projects made a Voluntary Announcement as a Director of Ashford International Development Company. The Head of Economic Development made a Voluntary Announcement as a Member of the Ashford College Business Board.